Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

In the early days, the prices of cards like "Heavenly Treasure" and "Angel's Charity" weren't very high. Hayato could easily buy three cards with just a few Fukuzawa Yukichi cards from his wallet that he "picked up" from the ground, and still have money left over to open card packs. However, as the environment accelerated and duelists realized the true power of these powerful cards, their value naturally skyrocketed.

Furthermore, according to Yusei Fudo in the future, as these cards eventually became banned and were no longer issued by the International Illusion Society, the prices of existing cards actually skyrocketed and became even more expensive, to the point that a single card could be exchanged for a house.

(Yusei, who bought a villa in Shin-Domino City with a card: Big House, awesome!)

Marufuji Sho has used "Angel's Charity" but never "Heavenly Treasure". Is it because he doesn't like it? Of course not. If he could, he would like to fill his deck with as many cards as possible, like Judai and Manjoume, but he doesn't have the money or the luck to get those cards.

Therefore, Marufuji Sho was so surprised to see Amelda, a staff member of the Duel Academy cafeteria, casually play two such expensive cards.

“Expensive? It seems so, but I’m not short of money,” Ameruda said casually. “Besides, it’s just a few cards. Although they are somewhat powerful, these few cards are not enough to determine the outcome of a duel.”

Although not born into wealth, Amelda later joined Doma and became one of the "Three Knights of Doma," second only to the king. Even with Hayato's arrival, he could still access almost all of Doma's resources. He had all sorts of cards that could be obtained with money and power. He didn't care about a few "Heavenly Treasure Cards" at all; in terms of importance, they weren't as important as his long-unused "Mech" deck.

"No way, if it weren't for the [Heavenly Treasure Card], you would have already run out of cards." Marufuji Sho retorted, though his voice wasn't very loud.

After drawing six cards, Amelda played a card and said, "I haven't made a normal summon this turn. Normal Summon this monster from my hand in Attack Position."

On the field of Ameruda, a seemingly ordinary frog jumped out, much to Marufuji Sho's surprise: "This is also food?!"

【Yellow Spring Frog】【1☆/Water】

[Aquarium/Effect]

[100/100]

"Frog dishes are nothing unusual, don't be surprised. Otherwise, wouldn't you be unable to accept snails and foie gras?"

Ameruda calmly said, instead of playing any more cards, she raised her Duel Disk and revealed the Continuous Trap Card [Recette-de-Personnel ~Recipe for Meals~] that she had activated earlier, saying, "The two effects of this Continuous Trap Card that I activated earlier have a restriction that each card name can only be used once per turn. Now that I have all the ingredients needed for the dish, I will activate its first effect first."

"I can only activate this ability by targeting a Ritual Monster on my field. Special Summon one 'New Chef Token' to my field. This Token's Level becomes the same as the targeted monster." A cloud of mist appeared around her, and Amelda pointed to her field. "The monster I selected is 'New Chef Bouillet Bouillet,' so the Level of 'New Chef Token' is 1☆."

Within the mist surrounding Ameluda, the hazy silhouette of the five-armed [New-Style Magic Chef's Bouillabaisse] appeared, but before the illusion could fully materialize, Ameluda exclaimed, "However, before the effect of [Recette-de-Personnel ~The Recipe of the Meal~] Special Summons [New-Style Magic Chef Token], the effect of [New-Style Magic Chef's Bouillabaisse] will be triggered!"

Upon hearing Amelda's words, Marufuji Sho said in surprise, "Although it's a Level 1☆ Ritual Monster, it doesn't have just one effect? ​​That makes sense. It seems that Mr. Pegasus's [Narcissus] is also a Level 1☆ Ritual Monster."

Meanwhile, Jaden, watching from the sidelines, was more focused on the word "ingredients" that Ameruda mentioned. Looking at the creepy [Yomi Frog] on his back, he grumbled with disgust, "Although Mr. Ameruda's dishes are delicious and visually appealing, why is he always so picky about ingredients? What do you mean by 'ingredients'? Are you going to make [Yomi Frog] into a dish too?"

"How do you know how the final dish will taste?" Amelda glanced at Jaden. "No matter what kind of food it is, it's a mystery until you take the first bite. The same goes for cards, and the same goes for life."

"When 'New Chef's Bouillet Bouillets' on the field becomes the target of an attack or card effect, you can activate this effect. Tribute this card and one Attack Position monster on both players' fields—I choose 'Yomi Frog' on my field—and then Special Summon one Level 2/3 'New Chef' monster from my hand or Deck!"

"It's time to clear away the soup and snacks after we've finished eating. Now turn up the heat, heat the pan, put the ingredients in to fry, and add small amounts of white wine several times to allow the ingredients to fully absorb the aroma!"

Reciting the summoning incantation that sounded more like a recipe, the "New-Style Magic Chef's Bouillabaisse" on Ameruda's field transformed into a frying pan placed on the fire, while the "Yellow Spring Frog" was broken down into several pieces of meat and put into the pan to be cooked.

A moment later, another exquisite but small dish, which looked like it wouldn't fill you up, was served on the table, and a demon god appeared amidst the steam!

"Dish upgrade - Level 3☆!" Amelda retrieved a card from her deck and played it on the Duel Disk. "Seafood ready - [New-style Magic Chef's Pan-fried Bulbasaur]!"

Compared to the chibi-style demons residing in the dishes of the previous two "New Style Demon Chef" series, the demon appearing in this new French cooking method "pan-fried dumplings," which shares a name with a classic Yan Kingdom breakfast, appears much more mature. Not only is it well-dressed, but it also gracefully bows to its two "guests," Marufuji Sho and Judai.

If it weren't for the undisguised bloodlust that Marufuji Sho saw in the purple eyes when the creature looked up, he would have almost forgotten that the being in front of him was actually a demon—although the [New Chef's Pan-Fried Bulades] that was Special Summoned by the effect of [New Chef's Bouillabaisse Bouillabaisse] was actually the same Beast Warrior race.

【The New-Style Magic Chef's Pan-Fried Buva Retis】【3☆/Dark】

[Beast Warrior Race / Ritual / Effect]

[1200/1850]

(prototype)

Meanwhile, next to [New Chef's Pan-Fried Buerettis], [New Chef's Bouillabaisse], whose form is shrouded in mist, appears as a [New Chef's Derivative].

[New Style Magic Chef Derivative] [1☆/Dark]

[Demon Race/Derivatives]

[50/50]

"The 'New Chef's Confiras' that appeared on the previous confit duck leg corresponds to the 31st pillar of Solomon's 72 Demons, Phras, who distinguishes herbs and gems and is said to have the ability to discover hidden treasures." Jaden looked at the new monster on Ameruda's field, trying hard not to recall that the new dish was made with frogs. "This new card should correspond to the 17th pillar, the serpent demon god Butis who wields a sword and a horn?"

"Big brother, how come you know a little bit about all sorts of random things? Your knowledge is way too diverse!" Marufuji Sho couldn't help but complain after hearing Judai's words from the sidelines.

"It was all something Sanzhe mentioned to me during our vacation. He seemed to be researching whether there was any interaction between people and Duel Monsters in the past, and I learned quite a bit about it as well." Judai paused, then looked at Amelda and said, "But after three cards in a row, I think I'm pretty sure that Mr. Amelda's 'New Style Chef' deck might be based on the Seventy-Two Demon Gods in addition to French cuisine?"

“It’s purely a choice, but mixing is the essence of cooking, and that’s the core concept of the ‘New Magic Chef’.” Ameruda nodded, confirming Jaden’s statement. “Just like bread can’t replace meat, and meat can’t replace bread, but the two together are more delicious.”

"Humans are no different from food, and so are Duel Monsters. Spell Cards need to be used, Monster Cards need to be used, and Trap Cards need to be replenished to make a healthy body."

"If the card is Special Summoned as 'New Chef's Pan-Fried Bulwarettis', I activate its first effect: I draw one card from my Deck."

"Draw!"

After the new ritual monster appeared, Amelda's hand size did not decrease much, remaining at six cards. More importantly, Marufuji Sho heard some very important information.

He heard it clearly: when Amelda released [Yomi Frog], he said, "Release one attack position monster from both sides' fields." Doesn't that mean that Amelda can even capture the powerful monsters he has painstakingly summoned on his field and use them as ingredients for his cooking?

Is this effect only available with the "New Chef's Bouillabaisse" or...?

Meeting Marufuji Sho's gaze, Amelda didn't even glance at the card she drew, but instead began to explain: "1☆, 2☆, 3☆, my [New-Style Magic Chef] monsters all have dish levels similar to Michelin-starred restaurants, which can be seen from the star cards on them. And the difference between lower-level and higher-level dishes is completely different."

"You may have already guessed? You're right, the 1-star [New Chef's Bouillabaisse] and the 2-star [New Chef's Confiscated Comfilas], which is also of a lower rank, have almost identical second effects. The only difference is the level of the monster that can be Special Summoned; one is 2-star or 3-star, and the other is 3-star or 4-star."

"And with the Level 3☆ [New Chef's Pan-Fried Bulbasaur], this effect is further enhanced, becoming that it can be activated when any monster on either side's field becomes the target of an attack or effect, and the Level of the monster that can be Special Summoned is also changed to 4☆ or 5☆."

"As the dishes are presented, the demonic power manifested will gradually increase. Although this doesn't quite conform to the normal order of serving dishes, I'm going to activate this quick-play spell card in my hand, [Forbidden Holy Lance], to trigger the effect of [New-Style Magic Chef's Pan-Fried Buvarettis] on my field!"

The Forbidden Lance, usually used to weaken the opponent's monsters' attack power or protect your own monsters from being destroyed by effects, has a completely new use in Amelda's hands: actively triggering the effect of the "New Chef" monster!

"Targeting my [New Chef's Sealed Confilas], I activate [Forbidden Holy Lance], but before its effect takes effect, the effect of [New Chef's Pan-Fried Bularetis] activates in a chain!"

"I Tribute my [New Chef's Pan-Fried Bulwerettis] and its Attack Position [New Chef Token] on my field to Special Summon this Level 5 card from my Deck!"

"The blazing flames melt the butter, and white pepper and rosemary fall into it. The fish and oil will react instantly to produce a Maillard reaction, and the aroma of milk will burst forth!" The summoning words still sound like a recipe. Once again, Amelda releases two monsters on her field in one go. She skips level 4 and goes straight to level 5 "dishes".

"Dish upgrade - Level 5☆!"

"The main course is served—[The New Magic Chef's Butter-Pan-Fried Baraneil]!"

Based on the 51st Demon Pillar – the three-headed, bear-riding demon with a serpent's tail, the superior [New-Style Demon Chef] who resides in the butter-fried fish has finally appeared!

【The New-Style Chef's Butter-Fried Baraniel】【5☆/Dark】

[Beast Warrior Race / Ritual / Effect]

[2000/1850]

Chapter 1476 Black Hole Receives Electrocution... It can even block that!?

(Baraniel, the prototype of Byron)

【The New-Style Chef's Butter-Fried Baraniel】【5☆/Dark】

[Beast Warrior Race / Ritual / Effect]

[2000/1850]

Among the Level 1☆ [Mosaic Fish Tomato Bouillets], the Level 3☆ [Pan-fried Buvarettis], and now the Level 5☆ [Butter-fried Baranir], Marufuji Sho suddenly noticed a seemingly unimportant point: these odd-level [New-Style Magic Chef] monsters all seem to be of the same Beast Warrior race, and the cooking ingredients they use all seem to be classified as white-fleshed seafood—if [Card-Drawing Frog] can be considered seafood.

Conversely, the even-numbered 2☆ [New-Style Magic Chef's Confiscated Confilas] is an out-of-place warrior race, and his ingredients are duck meat, which is classified as red meat.

Based on this reasoning, perhaps the level 4 [New Chef] ritual monster will also be a warrior-type monster that uses red meat dishes, and there might even be a level 6 [New Chef] ritual monster like that?

No, it seems unnecessary to consider these things now. What's more important is what effect this newly introduced [New-Style Magic Chef] will have.

"If the [New Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil] is Special Summoned, I may add either a [Recipe] card or a [New Chef] card from my Deck to my hand. I choose the second [New Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil] from my Deck."

After adding the card to his hand, Amelda put it back into his deck, saying, "Then I will use the second effect of the Field Spell Card [A-Table] - once per turn, I will place one Ritual Monster Card from my hand back to the bottom of my deck to activate this effect, and I will draw one card from my deck."

"Next, I set four cards face down, and my turn ends here." With his back row filled, Amelda declared the end of his turn, leaving the two Ritual Monsters and the full back row to Marufuji Sho to deal with.

However, this wasn't the end of it, because Marufuji Sho saw that Amelda had actually taken two more cards from her graveyard and returned them to the bottom of her deck after declaring the end of her turn. "During my End Phase, I will target two cards in my graveyard, including the [Recipe] card, and activate the last effect of [A-Table]".

"I chose the cards 'Hamburger Recipe' and 'Heavenly Treasure Card'. I returned the target cards to the bottom of the deck in my preferred order, and then I drew a card from the deck."

[Ameruda: 4000LP, hand 6→2→3]

【A New Style of Magic Chef's Butter-Fried Baraneil】【ATK2000】

【The New Magic Chef's Oil-Sealed Confinement: Comfilas】【ATK800】

【Recette-de-Personnel ~Meal Recipes~】【GaiKa】X4

Venue: [A-Table, a modern chef's inn restaurant]

'This Field Spell Card is too powerful, combining expansion, extraction, and recycling!' Looking at the card in Amelda's hand, Marufuji Sho broke out in a cold sweat. 'Even ignoring the Spell Trap Cards in the back row, the monsters from the "New Magic Chef" series alone are troublesome enough.'

'Once selected as the target of an effect, or even just as the target of an attack, the effect can immediately activate, turning the attacking monster and itself into a dish, and elevating it to a stronger monster. This effect is far too cheating, not to mention that the evolved [New-Style Magic Chef] effect also becomes stronger.'

'I can't beat them, how can I fight them...'

Marufuji Sho was tempted to give up, but seeing Judai looking at him expectantly from the sidelines, and knowing that his victory or defeat would determine whether Judai could return to the true path, he gritted his teeth and drew a card: "My turn... Draw."

Compared to Ameruda, Marufuji Sho's momentum seemed completely lacking, and he had already lost in terms of momentum before the battle even started.

But looking at the card he had drawn, Marufuji Sho suddenly became excited, looking at Amelda with a surprised expression: "Wow, what a turn of events! It seems like we can still win after all!"

"Spell Card [Black Hole]! This card can destroy all monsters on both players' fields without targeting, and it will not trigger the effect that [New Chef] monsters would activate when targeted!"

As explained before, Marufuji Sho doesn't have the money to buy those powerful cards. Compared to the one-way "Lightning Strike" or the lower-level "Lightning Vortex" of "Lightning Strike", isn't "Black Hole", which destroys both monsters indiscriminately, quite cost-effective as long as there are no monsters on his field?

A pitch-black singularity appeared on Marufuji Sho's field, and immense gravity was applied to all the monsters on the field—although there were actually only two [New Chef] monsters on Amelda's field—dragging them toward the center of the singularity in an attempt to crush them with gravity.

However, at that moment, Ameruda snorted and pressed the button to activate the card: "The chef's painstakingly prepared dishes are for you to throw in the trash? Don't even think about it!"

"Chain activation of the counter-trap card 【Recette-de-Spécialité ~The Chef's Proud Recipe~】! This card can only be activated when there is a 【New Magic Chef】 Ritual Monster on my field, or when a monster's effect, Spell Card, or Trap Card is activated!"

As the cover behind Ameluda was lifted, a gloomy-faced chef emerged from the kitchen. The orange-haired man, seemingly the head chef, had also appeared in the previous [Recette-de-Viande ~Meat Recipe~], but this time he wasn't there to cook. Like Ameluda, he was enraged by Marufuji Sho's attempt to dump food into the [Black Hole] "trash can," and stormed to the table, smashing Marufuji Sho's [Black Hole] to pieces!

"The activation of [Black Hole] will be negated by the effect of [Recette-de-Spécialité ~The Chef's Proud Recipe~], and if a monster Special Summoned by the effect of [New Chef] is on my field, the negated card will be further destroyed." Amelda glanced at the crushed [Black Hole] and said casually, "Although this isn't my prime, I've never forgotten how to guard against cards like [Explosive Gale of Destruction]."

"【Explosive Gale Bullet of Destruction】?" Hearing the familiar card name, Marufuji Sho was somewhat puzzled. "I remember that card wasn't..."

"Do you have the leisure to divert your attention to other things right now, Marufuji Sho?"

"Hmph!" After sending the [Black Hole] card to the graveyard, Marufuji Sho was startled by Ameruda's stern expression. He glanced at the card in his hand and said somewhat unconvinced, "But how do you know I only have one usable card?"

"If I have no face-up cards on my field, I will use this Spell Card—[Lightning Storm]—and activate one of its effects!"

[Black Hole] failed to devour the monsters on Amelda's field, and Marufuji Sho immediately followed up with [Lightning Storm], which also has the effect of destroying monsters on the field.

"【Lightning Storm】can either destroy all of your opponent's Attack Position monsters or destroy all of their Spell/Trap Cards." Looking at Amelda's field, Marufuji Sho said, "Coincidentally, the monsters of 【New Chef】are more advantageous in Attack Position due to their effects, but 【Lightning Storm】, which is quite restrictive, can effectively counter them!"

"Therefore—I will destroy all the Attack Position monsters on my opponent's field!"

Compared to [Lightning Strike] and [Lightning Vortex], [Lightning Storm], which has activation restrictions and can only destroy attack-position monsters, is considered less practical by most people. Many people use it as a lower-tier alternative to [Great Storm]. However, coincidentally, Amelda's [New Magic Chef] can perfectly utilize any effect of [Lightning Storm].